The French government is preparing to hand over to the Algerian authorities a first list of Algerians whom Paris wants to deport to their home country due to violations of French laws. This move aims to test Algeria’s willingness to cooperate on this sensitive issue, according to a report by the French newspaper Le Parisien.
The French newspaper reported that French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau indicated that this initial list includes "several dozen" individuals, adding that it will be sent to Algeria in the coming days. Meanwhile, government sources told AFP that the move is "imminent" and could be carried out on Thursday or Friday.
According to Le Parisien, this measure comes amid escalating tensions between Paris and Algiers, further fueled by the migration issue, particularly after Algeria refused to accept certain deportees, including the perpetrator of an attack in the city of Mulhouse that left one person dead on February 22.
The newspaper added that relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained since France's announcement in July 2024 recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, a move that angered Algeria and exacerbated diplomatic disputes between the two sides.
The French newspaper’s report noted that Interior Minister Retailleau met with President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday in a closed-door meeting to discuss relations with Algeria. A source close to the Élysée Palace stated that both sides "agree on the principle" that Algerians with deportation orders must leave French territory.
However, Le Parisien pointed out that President Macron is keen to avoid any escalation that could further heighten tensions, particularly in light of other sensitive issues such as counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence-sharing, which Paris considers strategically significant in its relations with Algeria.
The newspaper’s report also stated that Algeria, through its media, has shown interest in Macron’s recent remarks calling for an end to media-fueled disputes between the two nations, viewing them as a gesture of appeasement. However, Algerian media also criticized Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau for pushing for the large-scale deportation of Algerians.
The French newspaper cited what it described as "diplomatic sources" who said that relations between Paris and Algiers have reached a state of "near rupture," especially following the arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. Paris has deemed the arrest arbitrary, arguing that it further deepens the discord between the two sides.
In an attempt to ease these tensions, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France is seeking to reopen communication channels with Algeria. He emphasized that relations between the two countries are "deep and complex" and require a gradual de-escalation that cannot be imposed unilaterally.
According to Le Parisien, Barrot urged Algeria to respond to the deportation list, considering it a potential "starting point for a new phase" in bilateral relations, paving the way for discussions on other contentious issues and exploring the possibility of strategic cooperation.
